The effect of water scarcity on health and development: the case of Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages in Ngaka Modiri Molema district, North West

Abstract

Water is one of the key and most fundamental and indispensable natural resource. Without it nothing on the universe will function. Water scarcity is a global reality threatening economic and societal development. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of community members in Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District about water scarcity and its effect on health and development. A qualitative research approach and a case study design were employed during the study. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. The study comprised of thirteen participants: ten community members (five participants from each village; both male and female), the municipality manager (particularly from water and sanitation sector) and two ward councilors (one per ward: Lomanyaneng ward 5 and Majemantsho ward 21). A semi structured interview schedule was used during the in-depth interviews with the municipality manager and two ward councilors, and a focus group guide was used to facilitate the focus group discussions with participants from the two villages. The interviews and the two focus groups were voice recorded during the process of data collection. The collected data was transcribed and analyzed through thematic content analysis. Key findings revealed that water scarcity have detrimental effects on the health and development of the communities in Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages. The Ngaka Modiri Molema District water service delivery was perceived as very poor and is attributed to poor planning, poor water supply, and poor water infrastructure. Recommendations made were the need; to increase communal taps, need for drainage system to recycle water, needs assessment for identification of needs, proper planning and outreach programmes to disseminate knowledge on how to conserve and use water, and constant monitoring of Jojo tanks and inspection of drinking water.